Customer Reviews

American Soul

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dave's music offers a fantastic mix of pop, country, and rock with lyrics that challenge and stimulate you. I listen to this CD daily during my hour long commute to and from work. The sounds transport me to distant moods with reflective memories.

Pushing the boundaries of rock, Dave Brier has produced a CD that incorporates country, soul, folk and rock into a cohesive expression of American music today. In the style of John Cougar Mellancamp and Beck, he has found his own balance of lyrics and instrumentation in each track. Soft and sweet, or rock and roll, each song is a new experience! Rich vocals and subtle guitar hooks reflect Dave's grounding in the American music we all grew up with. This tasteful CD is full of creative music that should appeal to a wide audience, both in Hawaii and the world. American Soul is true to its title!

The musical rythyms take you to another place and time while easing the stress and replacing it with a peacful feeling. The rythyms also represent many cultures that make up our America. The lyricks portray an understanding of the need to recognize that the simple pleasures of life are what's important. As we continue to push ourselves against the constraints of time, to juggle children, careers, life styles, and material desires, we are losing what should be most important in our lives. We, as a society, need to stop and smell the roses before there are none left. Listening to this cd helps me put my life in perspective when I am unsure about where the road I am traveling is going to take me.

The songs on this easy listening album either ask for a piece of mind with their questioning, philosophical lyrics or provide peace of mind with comforting, escapist phrasing. The up beat tunes surprise with lyrics that deal with some of the complicated questions of life; the words and music effectively create an interesting and effective juxtaposition. A number of the songs should be listened to in solitude in a dark room when the listener is wondering about the meaning of life and what is the measure of success. Many of the opening instrumentation's provide a real delight: the development of the others in mid-tune demonstrate control and embellishment of the basic melody; and several songs pleasantly surprise with added sound effects to increase the mood. On my CD-changer I accidentally had Sting's "Ten Summoner's Tales" loaded next to "American Soul." Both of these albums are similar in being a series of introspective songs -- easy to listen to with lyrics worth not only hearing but also thinking about. Dave Brier brings an earthier voice to his tales.

Great potential for a debut release. Easy listening with many different styles. Musical ability shows with the various tracks.